Dispensing package for cigarettes



June 12, 1934. C A 1,963,025

DISPENSING PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES Filed June 28, 1932 INVENTOR Oial'leyilfiladas ATTOfiNEY M Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES ATEN'll OFFICE 1,963,025 DISPENSING PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES Charles H. Mackie, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Augustus L. Merolle, Brooklyn,

This invention relates to a dispensing package for cigarettes.

An object of the invention is to provide an attractive form of package in which cigarettes may be packed and marketed and which will inolude simple, practical and efiicient means by which the cigarettes may be easily and quickly discharged one by one from the package.

Afurther object is to so construct the package that it will be tightly sealed at all times except when purposely opened to obtain a cigarette therefrom.

A further object is to so construct the package that a cigarette may be quickly and easily moved outwardly therefrom as the result of a simple manual manipulation of a part connected with the package.

A further object is to so construct the package that a part thereof may be easily manipulated to move a cigarette outwardly from the package into a position where it may be conveniently taken between the lips of the person manipulating the package.

A further and more specific object is to so construct the package that it will include a sliding platform and manually operable means to slide the platform so as to uncover a discharge opening and slide a cigarette longitudinally outwardly through said opening to a point where it may be conveniently taken between the lips of the person manipulating the package.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out'in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a cigarette package constructed in accordance with this invention, the same being illustrated as it would appear in use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially upon the plane of line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line IVIV of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view at right angles to the view Fig. 4 being substantially upon the plane of line VV of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing for describing in detail the exemplary structure which is illustrated therein, it will be noted that the package is of ordinary rectangular contour for containing a dozen or more of cigarettes, the package being intended to be carried in a smokers pocket.

The package may be formed of paper or cardboard of appropriate thickness and consists of top and bottom walls 1 and 2, opposite edge walls 3 and 4 and front and rear walls 5 and 6. The material from which these walls are formed may be cut, folded and gummed together in any appropriate manner, and it will be understood that a separate covering or wrapping of paper, cellophane or the like, either transparent or otherwise may be placed about the walls as a cover or envelope to more effectually seal the contents if desired.

It is noteworthy however that any or all of the walls 1 to 6 forming the package may consist of transparent material, such as celluloid, or cellophane, if preferred. In the instance illustrated the walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 are shown as being formed of transparent material as just mentioned, the walls 1 and 2 being shown as end covers fitted against the end edges of the walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 so as to hold the latter in proper form and complete the package. The walls 3, 4., 5 and 6 being transparent afford a clear vision of the contents of the package, while the material, either cardboard, or sheet metal, constituting the walls 1 and 2 provide suitable carrying means for the discharge mechanism included in the invention.

In the top wall 1, at one corner thereof, is

formed a circular discharge opening 7 of suitable size to permit endwise discharge of a cigarette therethrough from the package. A door 8 is pivotally mounted as at 9 to swing into and out of position closing the opening '7 and this door carries a pad or gasket element 10, of felt, rubber or other appropriate material, disposed so as to directly overlie the discharge opening and seal said opening substantially air tight when the door is closed.

Extending laterally from the door and lapping the front wall 5 of the package is a finger piece or extension 11 which continues beyond the hinge 9 and serves as a convenient means for engagement by the thumb, as indicated at 12 in Fig. 1, of an operator to swing the door at any time.

The end surface portion of the extension 11 is suitably roughened as at 13 so as to provide a proper medium for engagement by the operators finger to conveniently and easily effect the swinging swinging movement of the door.

Interiorly of the package is a slide member L, said slide member having a guide portion 14; resting flat against the inner surface of the front wall 5 so as to slide therealong toward and away from the discharge opening 7. An edge surface 15 of this guide portion rests against and slides along the inner surface of the adjacent edge wall 3 of the package so as to assist in guiding the-slide member.

At its lower end the portion 15 is turned inwardly so as to provide aplatform 16 connected therewith and disposed to stand directly beneath the discharge opening 7 in such relation that a cigarette resting by one end upon the platform and having its other end addressed to the discharge opening may be movedoutwardly through the discharge opening by sliding movement 0 the slide member.

The slide member stands normally with its platform portion 16 resting flat upon the inner surface of the bottom, wall 2 of the package, as indicated in Fig. 5.

A relatively non-elastic thread G is connected with the portion 14 of the slide member and extends therefrom through a small opening 1'7 providedin the topwall 1 of the package andv into connection with the door 8 as at 18.

A relatively elastic thread H is, connected with the portion 14 of the slide member and extends therefrom toward the bottom wall 2 of the package, being fixed to'said bottom wall as at 19.

.The. threads G and H are longitudinally aligned with each other and stand substantially parallel. to the line of movement of the slide member, being parallel with the walls 3 and 4 and5 and 6 of the package.

The thread H is of a character to hold the slide L normally in position with the platform portion 16.resting against the bottom.wall 2 of the package but by its elasticity it isadapted to yield for permitting. sliding. movement of the slide. member toward the discharge opening.

The thread G is of a character to draw the slide Lagain'st the tension of the thread H whenever the door 8 is swung open and to. in turn insure closing movement of the door by reason of. the'tension of the thread H whenever manual force is removed from the door.

The threads G and H are under tension. at all times, and thus serve to hold the slide member in its appointed operative position, and in order to assist in this result the portion 14 of. the slide member is provided with an extending. finger 20 which. extends beyond the threads G.H and lies flush against the inner surface of the front wall of the package. The finger 20 being at one side of the threads G and H and the remainder of the portion 14 being at the opposite side of said threads, and both these parts lying flush against the inner. surface of the package wall, the tensional strain of the threads readily enables said threadsto hold. the slide against any such movement as would displace. the platform portion 16 of the slide out of its appointed position aligned With. the discharge opening 7.

The slide may be'made of any appropriate material, but it preferably is formed of sheet metaliof suitable thinness and strength, the manher of connecting the threads G and H being preferably by turning over portions of said material upon itself to provide holding jaws against the threads as best indicated at 21 in Fig. 4'.

In using thispackagaan operator, having observed, as for instance by looking through the transparent walls of the package, that a cigarette is properly positioned upon the platform 16, merely swings open the door 8 and thereby slides the cigarette a suitable distance through the discharge opening 7 where it can be easily and conveniently gripped between. the lips, after the manner clearly illustrated in the drawing Fig. 1.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description,,or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting, sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:'

1. A. cigarette package comprising confining top, bottom, edge and side walls adapted to contain a supply of cigarettes, one of said walls having a discharge opening therethrough, of a size to permit endwise sliding discharge of. a cigarette therethrough, a manually operable closure for said discharge opening, a platform arranged within the package movable toward: and away from the discharge opening, elastic means to hold the platform against movement toward the. discharge opening, and a relatively nonelastic means extending between the platform and the closure whereby to cause movement of the platform toward the discharge opening incident to opening movement of the closure and to cause closing movement of the closure incident to movement of the platform away from the discharge opening.

2. A cigarette package comprising confining top, bottom, edge and side walls adapted to contain a supply of cigarettes, one of said walls having a discharge opening therethrough of a size to permit endwise sliding discharge of a cigarettetherethrough, a manually operable closure for said discharge opening, a platform arranged within the package movable toward and away from the discharge opening, means to move the platform toward the discharge opening incident to opening movement of the closure, and means to insure closing. of the closure member and movement of the platform in a direction away from the discharge opening except when force is applied to open the closure.

3. A cigarette package comprising confining top, bottom, edge and side walls adapted tocontain a supply of cigarettes, one of said walls having a discharge opening therethrough of a size to permit endwise sliding discharge of a cigarette therethrough, a manually operable closure for said discharge opening, a platform arranged within the package movable toward and away from thedischarge opening, and means for moving the platform. incident to movement of the closure, said means including parts cooperative with the platform and adjacent parts of the package to hold the platform in operative position at all times and having connection with the closure of a character to urge the closure closed.

4.. A cigarette package comprising confining top, bottom, edge and side walls adapted to contain a supply of cigarettes, one of said walls having a discharge opening therethrough of a size to permit endwise sliding discharge of a cigarette therethrough, a platform arranged within the package, yieldable connecting means engaging. between the platform and a wallof cigarette therethrough, a platform arranged within the package, an elastic cord connected between the platform and a wall of the package opposite said discharge opening yieldably urging the platform away from said opening, a manually openable closure for said discharge opening, and a relatively non-elastic connecting means between the closure and said platform whereby manual opening movement of the closure will stretch said elastic cord and move the platform to discharge a cigarette through said opening.

CHARLES H. MACKIE. 

